Thermally Stable and Dendrite‐Resistant Separators toward Highly Robust Lithium Metal Batteries. Issue 41 (1st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Shiyi; Wang, Jianan; Chen, Xin; Ma, Qianyue; Wang, Yanyao; Yang, Kai; Yao, Xuhui; Yang, Zhipeng; Liu, Jianwei; Xu, Hao; Cai, Qiong; Zhao, Yunlong; Yan, Wei
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 12:Issue 41(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-09-01
• Subjects: fluorine -- Li metal batteries -- lithium dendrites -- plasma -- PPTA; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202202206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: High‐level safety is of vital importance to the continuous pursuit of high‐energy‐density batteries in the increasingly electrified world. The thermal instability and dendrite‐induced issues of conventional polypropylene (PP) separators often cause internal short circuits and thermal runaway in batteries. Herein, a thermally stable and dendrite‐resistant separator (F‐PPTA@PP) is constructed using a dual‐functional and easy‐to‐commercialize design strategy of thermally safe poly‐p‐phenylene‐terephthamide nanofibers and plasma‐induced lithiophilic fluorine‐containing groups. In situ thermal monitoring, in situ optical observation, and multiphysics simulation demonstrate that F‐PPTA@PP can suppress thermal shrinkage of the separator and the formation of hotspots, and also promote uniform lithium deposition. Subsequently, lithium metal batteries are assembled, featuring an initial capacity of 194.1 mAh g –1 at 0.5 C with a low‐capacity attenuation of 0.02% per cycle over 1000 cycles. When operating under extreme conditions, i.e., −10 and 100 °C, ultrafast charging/discharging rates up to 30 C, lean electrolyte (2.4 µL mg –1 )/high mass‐loading (10.77 mg cm –2 ) or lithium‐sulfur batteries, F‐PPTA@PP separator still enables competitive electrochemical performance, highlighting its plausible processing scalability for high‐safety energy storage systems. Abstract : A dual‐functional and easy‐to‐commercialize design strategy is adopted to fabricate a thermally stable and dendrite‐resistant separator (F‐PPTA@PP separator). Its safety and electrochemical performance are comprehensively evaluated by in situ thermal monitoring, in situ optical observation, and multiphysics simulation. All the results demonstrate that the strong scalability of this separator enables lithium metal batteries to operate under extreme conditions.